Scots anger at anti-pollution charges

29 September 2000



Scots anger at anti-pollution charges

By FWi staff

THE NFU of Scotland has hit out at the scale of charges to be applied to new pig and poultry units under anti-pollution legislation that came into force on Thursday (27 September).

Large Scottish pig and poultry producers subject to Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control (IPPC) legislation will have to pay an application fee of at least 2950 and an annual fee of at least 1975.

The charges were approved by the Scottish Executive and Scottish Environment Protection Agency.

This is on top of the cost of preparing a detailed application and of maintaining yet more records, the union said.

Union vice-president Peter Stewart said the government has failed to keep its promise to minimise adverse effects of the IPPC legislation on the industry.

“Far from minimising the impact, our government is alone in passing on the whole cost to farmers. All other Member States are paying part or all of the costs,” he said.

“We are very disappointed that the government has not consulted us since it suggested even more exorbitant fees a year ago and that it has provided no explanation for the high charges.”

Pig units with more than 750 sows or 2000 finishing pigs over 30 kg, and new poultry units of more than 40,000 birds, now have to apply and pay for a permit if they intend to build new units.

Existing units over the thresholds will be subject to these rules from 2007.